The Irish Aviation Authority (IAA), which provides air traffic management, engineering and communications in airspace controlled by the Republic, has reported a 25 per cent rise in pre-tax profits to €6 million in 2003.
Last year, the authority reported a 10 per cent increase in international traffic levels last year, which contributed to a 16 per cent rise in its turnover to €110.6 million.
More than 80 per cent of turnover is revenue from aircraft that did not land in the Republic, but used Irish airspace en route to other destinations.
The number of aircraft landing at the three main Irish airports rose by 2.4 per cent to 270,000 movements.
The IAA invested €115 million in the new national Air Traffic Management system, which it said will position the IAA to handle traffic increases which are likely to arise in the future.
Last August a major agreement on north Atlantic airspace was concluded between the Irish and British Departments of Transport, which allowed the IAA to enter into a significant co-operation pact with its British counterpart, the UK National Air Traffic Services.
